Hendriks takes huge step on comeback road

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Liam Hendriks' latest Instagram post, with the White Sox closer holding his dog while wearing a bunny suit Sunday, wasn’t near as impactful as his previous addition this past week.

But whether Hendriks is having Easter fun or ringing a bell indicating the end of his chemo treatment for non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma, the news is better than a Dylan Cease shoutout or a five-homer game for the White Sox offense.

During this tough time for Liam and his wife, Kristi, there was no playbook for new White Sox manager Pedro Grifol on how to interact, aside from showing his unwavering support.

“Sometimes I pick up the phone and I'm going to text him, and I erase the text. Sometimes I'm like, ‘I want him to hear from me,’” Grifol said. “Personally, I've never gone through anything like that before with any player.

“He's been upbeat, as always. He's been strong. He's got a good supporting cast. He's got a good supporting cast here. Certainly, his wife has been a rock for him, his family. But as far as we're concerned in here, we can't wait to get him back.”

How does that comeback road look for one of the game’s best closers?

There have already been rumblings of Hendriks returning at some point in May, which is truly amazing, and from a baseball standpoint, will make the White Sox bullpen extremely tough with left-hander Garrett Crochet also on his way to the Majors as his injury rehab following Tommy John surgery comes to a close.

Hendriks played long toss and threw bullpen sessions when he felt right during his chemo treatment throughout Spring Training. So, it’s not as if he’s starting from the beginning.

“I saw him, a couple weeks ago, throw a bullpen in Arizona, and if you don't know what's going on, you're like, ‘OK, this guy's going to be ready to pitch,’” Grifol said. “It's just a credit to how strong he is, how strong he is mentally. That's why he's so good.”

Grifol doesn’t necessarily need to see anything in particular from Hendriks, as much as hearing him say, ‘I’m ready to go.’

“Then, obviously, the work that he's putting in out there matches his words,” Grifol said. “He's progressively gotten stronger. His work capacity's gotten stronger as he's gone through this process. He's never stopped throwing.

“It's now a matter of, he's got to go through a little bit of a Spring Training, too. But the communication's going to be extremely important when it comes to getting him back on the mound.”